Goa Blog

Goa, a paradise for holiday makers, has once again ushered in the tourist season. This year, the state expects to roll red carpet welcome to around 25 lakh tourists - including four lakh foreigners, who will enjoy their holidays in this coastal state.The state with 105 km long beach stretch incidentally enters into 27th year of its recognition as tourist destination. It was way back in 1980s that hippies discovered this destination, an ideal spot for their holidays.

Later, the state picked up enormously in the field of tourism. Going by the statistics provided by Sanjith Rodrigues, Managing Director, Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC), nearly 25 per cent of the state’s population is either directly or indirectly engaged in tourism activity.

Right from taxis to shacks or certain allied business like handicraft, the state’s economy is bloated with the tourism revenue. The state brings in huge chunk of foreign revenue to the nation through tourism.

Goa has been devotedly serving its visitors albeit many constraints. The bad infrastructure is something the tourists always complaint about. Pathetic roads leading to the beaches don’t restrain visitors from visiting them. But certainly, the improvement is needed.

Also, the Goa airport which welcomes around 725 chartered flights every year is falling short of requirement. The chartered flight operators intend to fly more to Goa but lack of slots have forced them to cancel their plans.

Goa’s second airport at Mopa still remains a dream with few politicians objecting to it as a part of their political game.

Although worldwide, Goa has been painted as the destination where night life is much rich, the actual situation is otherwise. Except for dozen of discos, the night life here comes to standstill after 10 o?clock. Overnight partying can happen only, if you and your gang plans it.

 The stringent noise pollution act is something that hinders the partying. The state policy does not allow excessive noise during night time as it disturbs the locality. But the tourism industry people feel that the state government should exercise their “wisdom” while implementing it.

“who will come to Goa, if they have to go back to their hotels and sleep after 10 in the night. The noise pollution act should not be implemented in letter but in spirit,” Ralf D’Souza, president, travel and tours association of Goa (TTAG), said.

The TTAG, body representing the tourism industry, has decided to petition Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat with the request to be little considerable while implementing this act.

After facing competition from destinations like Kerala, Goa needs to learn lessons. Although, the state has not faced any shortage of tourist and registers 10 to 20 per cent increase in tourist inflow every year, the threat from the neighbouring states always remain.

If Goa starts losing on its tourists, the state’s economy will slide down severely affecting the life here.

Courtesy:mangalorean